Chiiki Okoshi Kyoryokutai (Local Vitalization Cooperators, 地域おこし協力隊)
Get paid a salary plus activity budget to live in rural Japan, with startup support of up…
Record checked Oct 21, 2026 · official source confirmed 14 Nov, 06:01 UTC
Summary
MIC-funded program where rural municipalities hire people who move in from urban areas for 1-3 years of paid community work (tourism, farming, forestry, health, education); ~7,910 members in FY2024.
Dream spread
Get paid a salary plus activity budget to live in rural Japan, with startup support of up to ¥1M (¥2M from FY2026 if you create jobs) to stay on afterward.
Relocation reality check
It's a fixed-term municipal job, not a grant: pay is set by each town (national funding caps compensation at ¥3.5M/yr per member), you must move your registered residence into the area, and posts are competitive & mostly recruited in Japanese.
Your fit signals
The real program is below — the 0–100 scoring is a paid feature.
Full match score — Solo / Household
The 0–100 move-match score, quality score, and would-stay breakdown — with confidence and full reasoning — unlock on Solo and Household.
See Solo & Household plansCheck: Local job required
The program expects a job with an employer in Japan — it is not a remote-work route.
Reality engine
Four lenses on whether this move fits you — tap a panel to see the logic behind each signal.
Eligibility
Move your resident registration from an urban area to a designated depopulated/disadvantaged municipality and be appointed by that municipality; foreigners need a residence status that permits the work (recruitment & JET-alumni matching for foreign members is funded).
Conditions
The program's rules on record, blockers first. Confirm each on the official source.
Local job required
CautionThe program expects a job with an employer in Japan — it is not a remote-work route.
The long game
If Japan becomes home, here is the road from first visa to a second passport.
Japan · residency → PR → citizenship
Curated- Y0ArriveYear zero
Costs & money
The amounts & terms on record from the official source. USD figures are estimates.
- Incentive
- 3,500,000 JPYConditions apply — read the catch before counting on it.
- Duration
- 12–36 months
- Property purchase
- Not required
- Tax
- Compensation is employment/contract income taxed normally in Japan.
True cost to move
Upfront cash, reimbursements, and net position after approval — not headline incentive amounts.
- Flights & logistics$1,200
- Temporary housing (90 days)$2,400
Application roadmap
A practical sequence — adjust for your consulate and timeline.
1. Confirm official eligibility
Read the primary government source.
2. Gather income & employment proof
Bank statements, contracts, or tax records.
3. Book consulate / immigration appointment
Slots vary by country and season.
4. Prepare health coverage
Meet minimum coverage rules before arrival.
Meet people before you go
Existing communities already talking about life in 🇯🇵 Japan. Lurk, ask, make a friend — before the flight.
- r/movingtojapan
Strictly moderated, extremely useful wiki — read it first.
- r/japanlife
Source trail
Official links, the line we checked, and when we last checked it.
“550万円／人を上限 … 報酬等 350万円 … 起業・事業承継 100万円／人を上限”
Primary official sourceLast checked Oct 21, 2026- Secondary referenceLast checked Oct 21, 2026
Rule changes
CasaSedora last checked the official source on 14 Nov 2026. Changes appear here once two independent automated checks agree on them, or a person confirms them.
No rule changes recorded since monitoring began.
Our summaries point you to what moved — always confirm details on the official source.